"What is unique about current global climate change is the role of human behavior," said Janet Swim, PhD, of Pennsylvania State University. "We must look at the reasons people are not acting in order to understand how to get people to act." The American Psychological Association's Task Force on the Interface Between Psychology and Global Climate Change just published their report. These are some of the findings about barriers for behaviour change:* uncertainty over climate change reduces the frequency of "green" behavior* most people don't believe the risk messages of scientists or government officials* many people still believe climate change is not occurring or that human activity has little or nothing to do with it* people undervalue the risks and believe that changes can be made later* people believe their actions would be too small to make a difference and choose to do nothing.* ingrained behaviors are extremely resistant to permanent change while others change slowly. Habit is the most important obstacle to pro-environment behavior.

Positive Change

A sustainable future requires change at all levels. Change is an individual and emotional event – that depends on collective actions for success. Deep listening, communication, learning and facilitation can help to create the will to cooperate: the key to trigger positive behaviour change.